HISTORY OP CALIFORNIA. 457 



to make the best arrangement you can for sustaining 

 your forces during the winter, and for an early move- 

 ment in the spring. Though it is very desirable that 

 the expedition should reach California this season, 

 (and the President does not doubt you will make 

 every possible effort to accomplish this object), yet 

 if, in your judgment, it cannot be undertaken with 

 a reasonable prospect of success, you will defer 

 it, as above suggested, until spring. You are left 

 unembarrassed by any specific directions in this 

 matter. 



It is expected that the naval forces of the United 

 States which are now, or will soon be in the Pacific, 

 will be in possession of all the towns on the seacoast, 

 and will co-operate with you in the conquest of Cali- 

 fornia. Arms, ordnance, munitions of war, and pro- 

 visions to be used in that country, will be sent by 

 sea to our squadron in the Pacific for the use of the 

 land forces. 



Should you conquer and take possession of New 

 Mexico and Upper California, or considerable places 

 in either, you will establish temporary civil govern- 

 ments therein — abolishing all arbitrary restrictions 

 that may exist, so far as it may be done with safety. 

 In performing this duty, it would be wise and prudent 

 to continue in their employment all such of the exist- 

 ing officers as are known to be friendly to the United 

 States, and will take the oath of allegiance to them. 

 The duties at the custom-house ought at once to be 

 reduced to such a rate as may be barely sufficient to 

 maintain the necessary officers, without yielding any 

 revenue to the government. You may assure the 

 people of those provinces, that it is the wish and de- 

 sign of the United States to provide for tbem a free 



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